(seafood.vasep.com.vn) While the export of some marine products decreased significantly in August 2021, Vietnam's bivalve mollusk exports still increased strongly by 36.2%, reaching over 13.2 million dollars. In the first 8 months of the year, the export of bivalve molluscs reached USD 86.8 million, up nearly 40% over the same period last year. In which, clam is the key product, accounting for 72% of the value, reaching 62.6 million USD in 8 months, in August alone increased 75% to 11.5 million USD.
Clam products – the main product
In addition to clams (white clams, brown clams, silk clams), other molluscs in the export structure of shellfish include snails, scallops, scallops, oysters, mussels, abalone, mussels, etc. Snail exports accounted for 11% with nearly 9.5 million USD in the first 8 months, scallops accounted for 8.6% with 7.4 million USD.
Top 10 localities in exporting bivalve molluscs in August 2021 include Thanh Hoa, Ben Tre, Nam Dinh, Binh Thuan, Thai Binh, Hai Phong, Soc Trang, Kien Giang, Quang Ninh, Tien Giang, accounted for 97% of turnover. In which, Thanh Hoa alone accounted for 30%, Ben Tre accounted for 20%, Nam Dinh accounted for 10%.
Accordingly, the three largest enterprises exporting bivalve molluscs (with the main product being clams) are located in these three key provinces, including: Thanh Hoa Seafood Import-Export Joint Stock Company, Ben Tre Seafood Joint Stock Company, Lenger Vietnam Seafood Co., Ltd.
Many localities with strengths in raw materials and clam processing have not been in the social distancing zone according to the Government's Directive 16 recently, so they still maintain and boost export sales in August and are expected to will accelerate further in the last months of the year.
The EU market accounts for the largest share with 62%.
The top 6 main import markets of Vietnam's bivalve molluscs include the EU, the US, Japan, Korea, Taiwan and China. Exports of this item to the US, Taiwan, and China increased by 3 digits from 103%-156%. Exports to the EU increased by 33%. Exports to Korea and Japan increased slightly, 6% and 9% respectively over the same period last year.
The EU is the largest import market of Vietnam's bivalve molluscs, accounting for 62% of the total export value of this item of Vietnam to the markets. The US ranked second with 17%, followed by Japan with 10%.
In the first eight months of this year, Vietnam's bivalve mollusk exports to the EU reached US$53.4 million, up 33% over the same period last year. Italy, Spain and Portugal are the three largest import markets for Vietnamese bivalve molluscs in the EU. Exports to Italy reached over 17 million USD, up 63%. Exports to Spain and Portugal increased by 44% and 22%, respectively. The main products exported to these three markets are white clams and frozen steamed brown clams, with the average price of 1.78 - 1.79 USD/kg in August 2021.
In the first 8 months of this year, Vietnam's bivalve mollusk exports to the US grew strongly by 103%, reaching nearly 15 million USD.